Carolyn Hax, author of 'Tell Me About It -- Lying, Sulking, Getting Fat and 56 Other Things Not to Do While Looking for Love,' writes her advice column for The Washington Post. / Gannett

Written by

Carolyn Hax
The Washington Post

Dear Carolyn: I'm pregnant with my first child, and I'm getting quite a bit of feedback from close friends and family about having a baby shower.

I don't really want to have one. I feel like my husband and I have the resources to take care of what we really need, and it seems a little self-centered to be asking anyone else to contribute to a choice we made on our own. I felt the same way about a bridal shower, and I did successfully avoid that horror, but I'm feeling a lot of pressure about the baby. Is it OK to say no, I don't want one? Is it important to let other people ...